Auto Racing
Smith edges Keselowski in OT to win Nationwide opener
DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Regan Smith won the season-opening Nationwide Series race at Daytona International Speedway by edging Brad Keselowski at the finish line in overtime.
It was redemption for Smith, who was leading on the last lap a year ago when he tried to block Keselowski to preserve the win. It triggered a 12-car accident that sent Kyle Larson’s car into the fence. Nearly 30 fans were injured from debris that sailed into the grandstands.
The win was Smith’s fourth career victory in the Nationwide Series but first at Daytona.
Keselowski finished second, .013 seconds behind. The finish was the second closest at Daytona International Speedway and seventh closest in series history.
Trevor Bayne was third.
Kyle Busch, winner of Friday night’s Truck Series race, was fourth, and his Joe Gibbs Racing teammate Elliott Sadler was fifth.
Golf
Els returns to Match Play final for 1st time in 13 years
MARANA, Ariz. – Ernie Els reached the semifinals of the Match Play Championship for the first time in 13 years.
The four-time major champion still hasn’t played great golf at Dove Mountain, but it was good enough to get past 20-year-old Jordan Spieth, who clearly was frustrated in losing on the 16th hole.
Graeme McDowell had a lead for the first time all week – and he wound up losing. His magical week ended on the 18th hole when he lost to Victor Dubuisson of France in a tight match.
Els next will play Dubuisson.
Jason Day took out an ailing Louis Oosthuizen to reach the semifinals for the second consecutive year. Day next will play Rickie Fowler, who won the last two holes for a 1-up win over Jim Furyk.
NFL
Man charged in death of fan at Arrowhead Stadium
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – A suburban Kansas City man has been charged with first-degree involuntary manslaughter in the death of a Kansas City Chiefs fan who was beaten to death in an Arrowhead Stadium parking lot after passing out in the wrong vehicle.
Joshua T. Bradley, 23, of Independence, Mo., was arraigned Friday and is being held on $75,000 cash-only bond. He is accused of striking the blow that killed Kyle Van Winkle during a Dec. 1 Chiefs game against the Denver Broncos.
Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said a man went to his green Jeep Cherokee during the game and found Van Winkle, 30, of Smithville, passed out in the passenger seat. The man confronted Van Winkle, investigators said in a probable cause statement, but sent his son for help after he couldn’t get Van Winkle out of the vehicle.
Bradley was one of the people who responded, Baker said, and after a verbal argument with Van Winkle, punched him several times, including while the victim was on the ground.
Off-duty Kansas City police officers who worked security at the game found Van Winkle unconscious just before 5 p.m. He was pronounced dead at an area hospital; the Jackson County medical examiner later ruled his death was caused by blunt force trauma to the head and neck.
Tennis
Nothing stirs Venus Williams like tennis in Dubai
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Venus Williams won her 45th career WTA title at the Dubai Championships in an impressive 6-3, 6-0 victory over Alize Cornet of France in the final Saturday.
The 44th-ranked Williams, playing courtesy of a wild card, also won this title in 2009 and 2010.
Williams, who will move up to No. 29 in Monday’s updated rankings, last won a title at the 2012 Luxembourg tournament.
The former world No. 1, Williams won all five of her matches this week in straight sets.
The 26th-ranked Cornet was attempting to post back-to-back wins over the Williams sisters. On Friday, Cornet scored her first career upset over a No. 1-ranked player by beating Serena Williams 6-4, 6-4 in the semifinals.
Associated Press
